EP1986260A1 - Printed circuit board and fuel cell - Google Patents
Printed circuit board and fuel cell Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1986260A1 EP1986260A1 EP08251403A EP08251403A EP1986260A1 EP 1986260 A1 EP1986260 A1 EP 1986260A1 EP 08251403 A EP08251403 A EP 08251403A EP 08251403 A EP08251403 A EP 08251403A EP 1986260 A1 EP1986260 A1 EP 1986260A1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- region
- insulating layer
- printed circuit
- circuit board
- layer
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H05K1/00—Printed circuits
- H05K1/02—Details
- H05K1/0272—Adaptations for fluid transport, e.g. channels, holes
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/02—Details
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/02—Details
- H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
- H01M8/0204—Non-porous and characterised by the material
- H01M8/0206—Metals or alloys
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/02—Details
- H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
- H01M8/0204—Non-porous and characterised by the material
- H01M8/0221—Organic resins; Organic polymers
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/02—Details
- H01M8/0202—Collectors; Separators, e.g. bipolar separators; Interconnectors
- H01M8/0204—Non-porous and characterised by the material
- H01M8/0223—Composites
- H01M8/0228—Composites in the form of layered or coated products
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
- H01M8/1009—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes with one of the reactants being liquid, solid or liquid-charged
- H01M8/1011—Direct alcohol fuel cells [DAFC], e.g. direct methanol fuel cells [DMFC]
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M8/10—Fuel cells with solid electrolytes
- H01M8/1097—Fuel cells applied on a support, e.g. miniature fuel cells deposited on silica supports
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H05K1/00—Printed circuits
- H05K1/16—Printed circuits incorporating printed electric components, e.g. printed resistor, capacitor, inductor
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H05K2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to printed circuits covered by H05K1/00
- H05K2201/05—Flexible printed circuits [FPCs]
- H05K2201/056—Folded around rigid support or component
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H05K2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to printed circuits covered by H05K1/00
- H05K2201/09—Shape and layout
- H05K2201/09009—Substrate related
- H05K2201/09063—Holes or slots in insulating substrate not used for electrical connections
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
- Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a printed circuit board and a fuel cell using the same.
- Batteries that are small in size and have high capacitance are desired for mobile equipment such as cellular telephones. Therefore, fuel cells capable of providing high energy densities compared to conventional batteries such as lithium secondary batteries have been developed. Examples of the fuel cells include a direct methanol fuel cell.
- methanol is decomposed by a catalyst, forming hydrogen ions.
- the hydrogen ions are reacted with oxygen in the air to generate electrical power.
- chemical energy can be converted into electrical energy with extremely high efficiency, so that a significantly high energy density can be obtained.
- a flexible printed circuit board (hereinafter abbreviated as an FPC board), for example, is provided within such a direct methanol fuel cell as a collector circuit (see JP 2004-200064 A , for example).
- FPC board flexible printed circuit board
- Fig. 6 (a) is a plan view of the FPC board used in the conventional fuel cell
- Fig. 6 (b) is a sectional view showing the configuration of the conventional fuel cell.
- a pair of conductor layers 52a, 52b is formed on one surface of the FPC board 51.
- extraction electrodes 53a, 53b are provided so as to extend out of the conductor layers 52a, 52b, respectively.
- a fuel cell 50 is constituted by the FPC board 51, a film electrode junction 54 and a housing 55.
- the film electrode junction 54 is composed of a polyelectrolyte film 54a, a fuel electrode 54b and an air electrode 54c.
- the fuel electrode 54b is formed on one surface of the polyelectrolyte film 54a
- the air electrode 54c is formed on the other surface of the polyelectrolyte film 54a.
- the housing 55 is composed of a pair of half portions 55a, 55b.
- the half portion 55a is provided with fuel passages 56 into which fuel (methanol) flows, and the half portion 55b is provided with air passages 57 into which air flows.
- the FPC board 51 is bent with its one surface on which the conductor layers 52a, 52b are formed as an inner side.
- the film electrode junction 54 is sandwiched between the conductor layers 52a, 52b of the bent FPC board 51.
- Gaskets 58a, 58b are disposed in the periphery of the FPC board 51.
- the half portions 55a, 55b of the housing 55 are attached so as to cover a portion, excluding the extraction electrodes 53a, 53b, of the FPC board 51 from both sides of the FPC board 51.
- Various types of external circuits such as electronic components are electrically connected to the extraction electrodes 53a, 53b that are exposed from the housing 55.
- methanol is supplied to the fuel electrode 54b of the film electrode junction 54 through the fuel passages 56 of the half portion 55a. Moreover, air is supplied to the air electrode 54c of the film electrode junction 54 through the air passages 57 of the half portion 55b. In this case, methanol is decomposed into hydrogen ions and carbon dioxide by a catalyst to form electrons in the fuel electrode 54b.
- the hydrogen ions decomposed from the methanol pass through the polyelectrolyte film 54a to reach the air electrode 54c, and then react with oxygen in the air supplied to the air electrode 54c on the catalyst.
- the electrons are consumed while water is formed in the air electrode 54c. This causes the electrons to move between the conductor layers 52a, 52b of the FPC board 51 and supplies electrical power to the external circuits.
- the extraction electrode 53a is formed on its one end side and the extraction electrode 53b is formed on its other end side as described above. Therefore, the extraction electrodes 53a, 53b are arranged on different surfaces in a state where the FPC board 51 is bent. In this case, complicated operation of alignment is required when the external circuits are connected to the extraction electrodes 53a, 53b. In addition, reliability of connection between the external circuits and the extraction electrodes 53a, 53b is not sufficiently ensured, and problems such as a positional shift are generated.
- An obj ect of the present invention is to provide a printed circuit board capable of improving reliability of its connection to an external circuit and a fuel cell including the same.
- the first and second regions of the insulating layer of the printed circuit board are bent along the bent portion with the one surface as the inner side.
- the fuel element is arranged between the first and second regions of the bent printed circuit board.
- the printed circuit board and the cell element are accommodated in the housing.
- the third region of the insulating layer of the printed circuit board is drawn out of the housing so that at least part of the first extraction portion and at least part of the second extraction portion are exposed to the outside of the housing.
- At least part of the first extraction portion and at least part of the second extraction portion of the printed circuit board are exposed on the same surface in the outside of the housing. This allows the first and second extraction portions and the terminals of the external circuits to be easily and accurately aligned. Thus, the reliability of connection between the fuel cell and the external circuits is improved.
- the first and second extraction portions of the printed circuit board and the terminals of the external circuits can be easily and accurately aligned. Accordingly, the reliability of connection between the fuel cell using this printed circuit board and the external circuits is improved.
- the printed circuit board may be the printed circuit board of the previous aspect, and may have any one or combination of the optional features of that printed circuit board.
- a printed circuit board and a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described while referring to drawings. Note that a flexible printed circuit board having flexibility is described as an example of the printed circuit board in the present embodiment.
- Fig. 1 (a) is a plan view of the flexible printed circuit board according to the present embodiment
- Fig. 1 (b) is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of the printed circuit board of Fig. 1 (a)
- the flexible printed circuit board is abbreviated as the FPC board.
- the FPC board 1 is formed of a base insulating layer 2, a conductor layer 3 and a cover insulating layer 6.
- the base insulating layer 2 is made of polyimide, for example, and includes a rectangular first insulating portion 2a and a second insulating portion 2b that outwardly extends from one side of the first insulating portion 2a.
- first insulating portion 2a the above-mentioned one side of the first insulating portion 2a and the other one side parallel thereto are referred to as lateral sides, and the other pair of sides vertical to the lateral sides of the first insulating portion 2a are referred to as end sides.
- a bent portion B1 is provided in the first insulating portion 2a of the base insulating layer 2 so as to be parallel to the end sides and to divide the first insulating portion 2a into two substantially equal parts. As will be described later, the first insulating portion 2a is bent along the bent portion B1.
- the bent portion B1 may be a shallow groove with a line shape, a mark with a line shape or the like, for example. Alternatively, there may be nothing at the bent portion B1 if the first insulating portion 2a can be bent at the bent portion B1.
- one region of the first insulating portion 2a with the bent portion B1 as its boundary is referred to as a first region R1, and the other region is referred to as a second region R2.
- the above-mentioned second insulating portion 2b is formed so as to outwardly extend from the lateral side of the first region R1 of the first insulating portion 2a.
- a plurality of (six in this example) circular openings H1 are formed in the first region R1 of the first insulating portion 2a.
- a plurality of (six in this example) circular openings H2 are formed in the second region of the first insulating portion 2a.
- the conductor layer 3 is formed on one surface of the base insulating layer 2.
- the conductor layer 3 includes a pair of rectangular collector portions 3a, 3b and extraction conductor portions 4a, 4b extending in a long-sized shape from the collector portions 3a, 3b, respectively.
- Each of the collector portions 3a, 3b has a pair of lateral sides parallel to the lateral sides of the first insulating portion 2a and a pair of end sides parallel to the end sides of the first insulating portion 2a.
- the collector portion 3a is formed in the first region R1 of the first insulating portion 2a of the base insulating layer 2, and the collector portion 3b is formed in the second region R2 of the first insulating portion 2a.
- Circular openings H11 each having a larger diameter than that of the opening H1 are formed in portions, above the openings H1 of the base insulating layer 2, of the collector portion 3a.
- Circular openings H12 each having a larger diameter than that of the opening H2 are formed in portions, above the openings H2 of the base insulating layer 2, of the collector portion 3b.
- the extraction conductor portion 4a is formed so as to linearly extend from the lateral side of the collector portion 3a to the region on the second insulating portion 2b.
- the extraction conductor portion 4b is formed so as to extend from the lateral side of the collector portion 3b and bend to the region on the second insulating portion 2b.
- the conductor layer 3 includes a first metal layer F1 made of copper, for example, and a second metal layer F2 made of nickel and gold, for example, as shown in Fig. 1 (b) .
- the first metal layer F1 is formed on the base insulating layer 2, and the second metal layer F2 is formed so as to cover a surface of the first metal layer F1.
- the cover insulating layer 6 is formed on the base insulating layer 2 so as to cover a predetermined portion of the conductor layer 3.
- the cover insulating layer 6 includes a substantially rectangular collector cover 6a and a plurality of substantially annular opening covers 6b, 6c that are described in the following.
- the collector cover 6a extends to spread over the first insulating portion 2a and the second insulating portion 2b of the base insulating layer 2.
- the conductor layer 3 excluding the tips of the extraction conductor portions 4a, 4b is covered with the collector cover 6a.
- the exposed tips, not covered with the collector cover 6a, of the extraction conductor portions 4a, 4b are referred to as extraction electrodes 5a, 5b.
- Rectangular openings H21, H22 are formed in regions, above the collector portions 3a, 3b of the conductor layer 3, of the collector cover 6a.
- the substantially annular opening covers 6b are formed so as to cover peripheries of the openings H11 of the collector portion 3a.
- the substantially annular opening covers 6c are formed so as to cover peripheries of the openings H12 of the collector portion 3b.
- the inside diameter of the opening cover 6b is substantially equal to the inside diameter of the opening H1 of the base insulating layer 2, and the outside diameter of the opening cover 6b is larger than the inside diameter of the opening H11 of the collector portion 3a.
- the inside diameter of the opening cover 6c is substantially equal to the inside diameter of the opening H2 of the base insulating layer 2, and the outside diameter of the opening cover 6c is larger than the inside diameter of the opening H12 of the collector portion 3b.
- the opening covers 6b, 6c are in contact with the base insulating layer 2 in the openings H11, H12 of the collector portions 3a, 3b.
- Fig. 1 description is made of a manufacturing method of the FPC board 1 shown in Fig. 1 .
- Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are sectional views for use in explaining steps in the manufacturing method of the FPC board 1.
- the thickness of the insulating film 20 is 12.5 ⁇ m, for example, and the thickness of the conductor film 21 is 12 ⁇ m, for example.
- an etching resist 22 having a predetermined pattern is formed on the conductor film 21 as shown in Fig. 2 (b) .
- the etching resist 22 is formed by forming a resist film on the conductor film 21 using a dry film resist or the like, exposing the resist film in a predetermined pattern, and then developing the resist film, for example.
- a region of the conductor film 21 excluding a region below the etching resist 22 is removed by etching as shown in Fig. 2 (c) .
- the etching resist 22 is subsequently removed by a stripping liquid as shown in Fig. 2 (d) .
- a first metal layer F1 is formed on the insulating film 20.
- a nickel plating layer and a gold plating layer are sequentially formed on the first metal layer F1 by electrolytic plating as shown in Fig. 3 (e) .
- the thickness of the nickel plating layer is 5 ⁇ m, for example, and the thickness of the gold plating layer is 0.5 ⁇ m, for example. Accordingly, the conductor layer 3 composed of the first metal layer F1 and the second metal layer F2 is formed.
- a cover insulating film 23 is formed on the insulating film 20 so as to cover the conductor layer 3 as shown in Fig. 3 (f) .
- the cover insulating film 23 is suitably cured by heating after the formation of the cover insulating film 23.
- the thickness of the cover insulating layer 23 is 12.5 ⁇ m, for example.
- the cover insulating film 23 is subsequently exposed in a predetermined pattern, followed by development, so that the cover insulating layer 6 composed of the collector cover 6a and the opening covers 6b, 6c is formed as shown in Fig. 3 (g) .
- the cover insulating layer 6 is cured by heating. Then, the insulating film 20 is cut into a predetermined shape, so that the FPC board 1 composed of the base insulating layer 2, the conductor layer 3 and the cover insulating layer 6 is completed as shown in Fig. 3 (h) .
- the thickness of the base insulating layer 2 is preferably 5 to 50 ⁇ m, and more preferably 12.5 to 25 ⁇ m.
- the thickness of the first metal layer F1 is preferably 3 to 35 ⁇ m, and more preferably 5 to 20 ⁇ m.
- the thickness of the second metal layer F2 is preferably 0.1 to 10 ⁇ m, and more preferably 1 to 6 ⁇ m.
- the thickness of the nickel plating layer of the second metal layer F2 is preferably 3 to 6 ⁇ m, and the thickness of the gold plating layer of the second metal layer F2 is preferably 0.2 to 1 ⁇ m
- the thickness of the cover insulating layer 6 is preferably 3 to 25 ⁇ m, and more preferably 5 to 15 ⁇ m.
- Fig. 4 (a) is a perspective view showing the appearance of the fuel cell using the above-described FPC board 1
- Fig. 4 (b) is a diagram for use in explaining functions in the fuel cell.
- the fuel cell 30 includes a rectangular parallelepiped housing 31 composed of half portions 31a, 31b.
- the FPC board 1 is sandwiched between the half portions 31a, 31b while being bent along the bent portion B1 of Fig. 1 with the one surface on which the conductor layer 3 ( Fig. 1 ) and the cover insulating layer 6 are formed as its inner side.
- the second insulating portion 2b of the base insulating layer 2 of the FPC board 1 is outwardly extracted from a clearance between the half portions 31a, 31b. This causes the extraction electrodes 5a, 5b on the second insulating portion 2b to be exposed to the outside of the housing 30. Terminals of various types of external circuits are electrically connected to the extraction electrodes 5a, 5b.
- an electrode film 35 is arranged between the collector portion 3a and the collector portion 3b of the bent FPC board 1 in the housing 31.
- the electrode film 35 is composed of a fuel electrode 35a, an air electrode 35b and an electrolyte film 35c.
- the fuel electrode 35a is formed on one surface of the electrolyte film 35c, and the air electrode 35b is formed on the other surface of the electrolyte film 35c.
- the fuel electrode 35a of the electrode film 35 faces the collector portion 3b of the FPC board 1, and the air electrode 35b faces the collector portion 3a of the FPC board 1.
- Fuel is supplied to the fuel electrode 35a of the electrode film 35 through the openings H2, H12 of the FPC board 1. Note that methanol is used as fuel in the present embodiment. Air is supplied to the air electrode 35b of the electrode film 35 through the openings H1, F11 of the FPC board 1.
- methanol is decomposed into hydrogen ions and carbon dioxide in the fuel electrode 35a, forming electrons.
- the formed electrons are led to the extraction electrode 5b ( Fig. 4 (a) ) from the collector portion 3b of the FPC board 1.
- Hydrogen ions decomposed from methanol pass through the electrolyte film 35c to reach the air electrode 35b.
- the air electrode 35b hydrogen ions and oxygen are reacted while the electrons led to the collector portion 3a from the extraction electrode 5a ( Fig. 4 (a) ) are consumed, thereby forming water. In this way, electrical power is supplied to the external circuits connected to the extraction electrodes 5a, 5b.
- the extraction electrodes 5a, 5b are formed on the common second insulating portion 2b of the base insulating layer 2. This allows the extraction electrodes 5a, 5b and the terminals of the external circuits to be easily and accurately aligned in the fuel cell 30 using the FPC board 1. Accordingly, reliability of connection between the external circuits and the fuel cell 30 is improved.
- an interface between the second metal layer F2 and the base insulating layer 2 is covered with the cover insulating layer 6 while a surface of the first metal layer F1 made of copper is covered with the second metal layer F2 including the gold plating layer having high corrosion resistance in the FPC board 1 of the present embodiment.
- the acid is reliably prevented from being in contact with the first metal layer F1 made of copper in the fuel cell 30. Accordingly, copper can be reliably prevented from corroding while inexpensive copper is used to suppress an increase in cost.
- Fig. 5 is a plan view showing another example of the FPC board 1.
- the second insulating portion 2b of the base insulating layer 2 is formed so as to outwardly extend from the end side of the first insulating portion 2a.
- the extraction conductor portions 4a, 4b of the conductor layer 3 are formed so as to extend from the collector portions 3a, 3b to the region on the second insulating portion 2b of the base insulating layer 2.
- the extraction electrodes 5a, 5b are provided on this second insulating portion 2b.
- the external circuits can be easily and reliably attached to the extraction electrodes 5a, 5b.
- a material for the base insulating layer 2 and the cover insulating layer 6 is not limited to polyimide.
- other insulating materials such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethernitrile and polyethersulphone may be used.
- a material for the first metal layer F1 of the conductor layer 3 is not limited to copper.
- other metal materials such as copper alloy, gold and aluminum may be used.
- a material for the second metal layer F2 is not limited to nickel and gold.
- other metal materials having high corrosion resistance may be used.
- the first metal layer F1 and the second metal layer F2 may be formed of the same material.
- the shape and size of the collector portions 3a, 3b of the conductor layer 3 can be suitably set depending on the shape and size of the base insulating layer 2.
- the base insulating layer 2 is an example of an insulating layer
- the first region R1 is an example of a first region
- the second region R2 is an example of a second region
- the second insulating portion 2b is an example of a third region
- the collector portion 3a is an example of a first conductor layer
- the collector portion 3b is an example of a second conductor layer
- the extraction conductor portion 4a is an example of a first extraction portion
- the extraction conductor portion 4b is an example of a second extraction portion
- the second metal layer F2 is an example of a metal layer
- the opening H1 is an example of a first through hole
- the opening H2 is an example of a second through hole.
- the fuel electrode 35a, the air electrode 35b and the electrolyte film 35c are examples of a cell element.
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- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a printed circuit board and a fuel cell using the same.
- Batteries that are small in size and have high capacitance are desired for mobile equipment such as cellular telephones. Therefore, fuel cells capable of providing high energy densities compared to conventional batteries such as lithium secondary batteries have been developed. Examples of the fuel cells include a direct methanol fuel cell.
- In the direct methanol fuel cell, methanol is decomposed by a catalyst, forming hydrogen ions. The hydrogen ions are reacted with oxygen in the air to generate electrical power. In this case, chemical energy can be converted into electrical energy with extremely high efficiency, so that a significantly high energy density can be obtained.
- A flexible printed circuit board (hereinafter abbreviated as an FPC board), for example, is provided within such a direct methanol fuel cell as a collector circuit (see
JP 2004-200064 A Fig. 6. Fig. 6 (a) is a plan view of the FPC board used in the conventional fuel cell, andFig. 6 (b) is a sectional view showing the configuration of the conventional fuel cell. - As shown in
Fig. 6 (a) , a pair ofconductor layers FPC board 51. In addition,extraction electrodes conductor layers - As shown in
Fig. 6 (b) , afuel cell 50 is constituted by the FPCboard 51, afilm electrode junction 54 and ahousing 55. Thefilm electrode junction 54 is composed of apolyelectrolyte film 54a, afuel electrode 54b and anair electrode 54c. Thefuel electrode 54b is formed on one surface of thepolyelectrolyte film 54a, and theair electrode 54c is formed on the other surface of thepolyelectrolyte film 54a. Thehousing 55 is composed of a pair ofhalf portions half portion 55a is provided withfuel passages 56 into which fuel (methanol) flows, and thehalf portion 55b is provided withair passages 57 into which air flows. - The FPC
board 51 is bent with its one surface on which theconductor layers film electrode junction 54 is sandwiched between theconductor layers bent FPC board 51. Gaskets 58a, 58b are disposed in the periphery of the FPCboard 51. Then, thehalf portions housing 55 are attached so as to cover a portion, excluding theextraction electrodes FPC board 51 from both sides of theFPC board 51. Various types of external circuits such as electronic components are electrically connected to theextraction electrodes housing 55. - In this
fuel cell 50, methanol is supplied to thefuel electrode 54b of thefilm electrode junction 54 through thefuel passages 56 of thehalf portion 55a. Moreover, air is supplied to theair electrode 54c of thefilm electrode junction 54 through theair passages 57 of thehalf portion 55b. In this case, methanol is decomposed into hydrogen ions and carbon dioxide by a catalyst to form electrons in thefuel electrode 54b. - The hydrogen ions decomposed from the methanol pass through the
polyelectrolyte film 54a to reach theair electrode 54c, and then react with oxygen in the air supplied to theair electrode 54c on the catalyst. Thus, the electrons are consumed while water is formed in theair electrode 54c. This causes the electrons to move between theconductor layers FPC board 51 and supplies electrical power to the external circuits. - In the
conventional FPC board 51 used in thefuel cell 50, theextraction electrode 53a is formed on its one end side and theextraction electrode 53b is formed on its other end side as described above. Therefore, theextraction electrodes FPC board 51 is bent. In this case, complicated operation of alignment is required when the external circuits are connected to theextraction electrodes extraction electrodes - An obj ect of the present invention is to provide a printed circuit board capable of improving reliability of its connection to an external circuit and a fuel cell including the same.
- (1) According to an aspect of the present invention, a printed circuit board includes an insulating layer having one surface and the other surface while including first and second regions that are adjacent to each other and a third region that is adjacent to the first region on the one surface, a first conductor layer formed on the first region of the insulating layer, a second conductor layer formed on the second region of the insulating layer, a first extraction portion formed so as to extend from the first conductor layer to the third region of the insulating layer, and a second extraction portion formed so as to extend from the second conductor layer to the third region of the insulating layer, wherein a bent portion is provided at a boundary between the first region and the second region, and the third region is provided so that at least part of the first extraction portion and at least part of the second extraction portion on the third region are not overlapped with the second region when the first and second regions are bent at the bent portion with the one surface as an inner side.
In this printed circuit board, the first conductor layer is formed in the first region on the one surface of the insulating layer, and the second conductor layer is formed in the second region on the one surface of the insulating layer. In addition, the first extraction portion is formed so as to extend from the first conductor layer to the third region of the insulating layer, and the second extraction portion is formed so as to extend from the second conductor layer to the third region of the insulating layer.
When this printed circuit board is used in a fuel cell, the first extraction portion and the second extraction portion are outwardly extracted while the first and second regions of the insulating layer are bent at the bent portion with the one surface as the inner side. In this case, at least part of the first extraction portion and at least part of the second extraction portion are exposed on the same surface while the first and second extraction portions extend to the common third region. This allows the first and second extraction portions and terminals of the external circuits to be easily and accurately aligned. Thus, reliability of connection between the fuel cell using this printed circuit board and the external circuits is improved. - (2) The first and second regions of the insulating layer may each have a substantially rectangular shape with the bent portion as a common one side, and the third region may be adjacent to another one side, being substantially parallel to the bent portion, of the first region.
In this case, at least part of the first extraction portion and at least part of the second extraction portion on the third region project from another one side, being substantially parallel to the bent portion, of the second region when the first and second regions are bent at the bent portion with the one surface as the inner side. This allows the first and second extraction portions and the terminals of the external circuits to be more easily and accurately aligned. - (3) The first and second regions of the insulating layer may each have a substantially rectangular shape with the bent portion as a common one side, and the third region may be adjacent to another one side, being substantially vertical to the bent portion, of the first region.
In this case, at least part of the first extraction portion and at least part of the second extraction portion on the third region project from another one side, being substantially vertical to the bent portion, of the second region when the first and second regions are bent at the bent portion with the one surface as the inner side. This allows the first and second extraction portions and the terminals of the external circuits to be further easily and accurately aligned. - (4) The printed circuit board may further include a metal layer that has electrical conductivity and acid resistance and is formed so as to cover the first and second conductor layers and the first and second extraction portions.
In this case, corrosion caused by acid can be prevented while electrical conductivity of the first and second conductor layers and the first and second extraction portions is ensured even in a state where acid is in contact with a surface of the printed circuit board. - (5) The metal layer may include gold. In this case, corrosion caused by acid can be reliably prevented while electrical conductivity of the first and second conductor layers and the first and second extraction portions is sufficiently ensured even in the state where acid is in contact with the surface of the printed circuit board since gold has high electrical conductivity and high acid resistance.
- (6) The printed circuit board may further include a cover insulating layer that covers an interface between the metal layer and the insulating layer at least on the first and second regions of the insulating layer.
In this case, acid is prevented from being in contact with the first and second conductor layers and the first and second extraction portions on the first and second regions through the interface between the metal layer and the insulating layer while electrical connection between the first and second extraction portions and the external circuits is obtained on the third region. This can more reliably prevent the first and second conductor layers and the first and second extraction portions from corroding. - (7) The printed circuit board may further include a first through hole formed so as to penetrate the first region of the insulating layer and the first conductor layer and a second through hole formed so as to penetrate the second region of the insulating layer and the second conductor layer.
In this case, fuel and air can be supplied to a fuel electrode and an air electrode of the fuel cell through the first and second through holes in the fuel cell using this printed circuit board. - (8) According to another aspect of the present invention, a fuel cell includes a printed circuit board, a cell element, and a housing that accommodates the printed circuit board and the cell element, wherein the printed circuit board includes an insulating layer having one surface and the other surface while including first and second regions that are adjacent to each other and a third region that is adjacent to the first region on the one surface, a first conductor layer formed on the first region of the insulating layer, a second conductor layer formed on the second region of the insulating layer, a first extraction portion formed so as to extend from the first conductor layer to the third region of the insulating layer, and a second extraction portion formed so as to extend from the second conductor layer to the third region of the insulating layer, a bent portion is provided at a boundary between the first region and the second region, and the third region is provided so that at least part of the first extraction portion and at least part of the second extraction portion on the third region are not overlapped with the second region when the first and second regions are bent at the bent portion with the one surface as an inner side, the cell element is arranged between the first and second regions while the first and second regions of the insulating layer of the printed circuit board are bent along the bent portion with the one surface as the inner side, and the third region of the insulating layer is outwardly extracted from the housing so that at least part of the first extraction portion and at least part of the second extraction portion are exposed to the outside of the housing.
- In this fuel cell, the first and second regions of the insulating layer of the printed circuit board are bent along the bent portion with the one surface as the inner side. The fuel element is arranged between the first and second regions of the bent printed circuit board.
- In the state, the printed circuit board and the cell element are accommodated in the housing. The third region of the insulating layer of the printed circuit board is drawn out of the housing so that at least part of the first extraction portion and at least part of the second extraction portion are exposed to the outside of the housing.
- In this case, at least part of the first extraction portion and at least part of the second extraction portion of the printed circuit board are exposed on the same surface in the outside of the housing. This allows the first and second extraction portions and the terminals of the external circuits to be easily and accurately aligned. Thus, the reliability of connection between the fuel cell and the external circuits is improved.
- According to the present invention, the first and second extraction portions of the printed circuit board and the terminals of the external circuits can be easily and accurately aligned. Accordingly, the reliability of connection between the fuel cell using this printed circuit board and the external circuits is improved.
- The printed circuit board may be the printed circuit board of the previous aspect, and may have any one or combination of the optional features of that printed circuit board.
- Other features, elements, characteristics, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.
-
-
Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a flexible printed circuit board according to the present embodiment; -
Fig. 2 is a sectional view for use in explaining steps in a manufacturing method of the flexible printed circuit board; -
Fig. 3 is a sectional view for use in explaining steps in the manufacturing method of the flexible printed circuit board; -
Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a fuel cell using the flexible printed circuit board ofFig. 1 ; -
Fig. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the flexible printed circuit board; and -
Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a fuel cell using a conventional printed circuit board. - A printed circuit board and a fuel cell according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described while referring to drawings. Note that a flexible printed circuit board having flexibility is described as an example of the printed circuit board in the present embodiment.
-
Fig. 1 (a) is a plan view of the flexible printed circuit board according to the present embodiment, andFig. 1 (b) is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of the printed circuit board ofFig. 1 (a) . In the following description, the flexible printed circuit board is abbreviated as the FPC board. - As shown in
Fig. 1 (a) and Fig. 1 (b) , theFPC board 1 is formed of abase insulating layer 2, aconductor layer 3 and acover insulating layer 6. - The
base insulating layer 2 is made of polyimide, for example, and includes a rectangular first insulatingportion 2a and a second insulatingportion 2b that outwardly extends from one side of the first insulatingportion 2a. Hereinafter, the above-mentioned one side of the first insulatingportion 2a and the other one side parallel thereto are referred to as lateral sides, and the other pair of sides vertical to the lateral sides of the first insulatingportion 2a are referred to as end sides. - A bent portion B1 is provided in the first insulating
portion 2a of thebase insulating layer 2 so as to be parallel to the end sides and to divide the first insulatingportion 2a into two substantially equal parts. As will be described later, the first insulatingportion 2a is bent along the bent portion B1. The bent portion B1 may be a shallow groove with a line shape, a mark with a line shape or the like, for example. Alternatively, there may be nothing at the bent portion B1 if the first insulatingportion 2a can be bent at the bent portion B1. Hereinafter, one region of the first insulatingportion 2a with the bent portion B1 as its boundary is referred to as a first region R1, and the other region is referred to as a second region R2. The above-mentioned second insulatingportion 2b is formed so as to outwardly extend from the lateral side of the first region R1 of the first insulatingportion 2a. - A plurality of (six in this example) circular openings H1 are formed in the first region R1 of the first insulating
portion 2a. In addition, a plurality of (six in this example) circular openings H2 are formed in the second region of the first insulatingportion 2a. - The
conductor layer 3 is formed on one surface of thebase insulating layer 2. Theconductor layer 3 includes a pair ofrectangular collector portions extraction conductor portions collector portions - Each of the
collector portions portion 2a and a pair of end sides parallel to the end sides of the first insulatingportion 2a. Thecollector portion 3a is formed in the first region R1 of the first insulatingportion 2a of thebase insulating layer 2, and thecollector portion 3b is formed in the second region R2 of the first insulatingportion 2a. - Circular openings H11 each having a larger diameter than that of the opening H1 are formed in portions, above the openings H1 of the
base insulating layer 2, of thecollector portion 3a. Circular openings H12 each having a larger diameter than that of the opening H2 are formed in portions, above the openings H2 of thebase insulating layer 2, of thecollector portion 3b. - The
extraction conductor portion 4a is formed so as to linearly extend from the lateral side of thecollector portion 3a to the region on the second insulatingportion 2b. Theextraction conductor portion 4b is formed so as to extend from the lateral side of thecollector portion 3b and bend to the region on the second insulatingportion 2b. - Note that the
conductor layer 3 includes a first metal layer F1 made of copper, for example, and a second metal layer F2 made of nickel and gold, for example, as shown inFig. 1 (b) . The first metal layer F1 is formed on thebase insulating layer 2, and the second metal layer F2 is formed so as to cover a surface of the first metal layer F1. - As shown in
Fig. 1 (a) , thecover insulating layer 6 is formed on thebase insulating layer 2 so as to cover a predetermined portion of theconductor layer 3. Thecover insulating layer 6 includes a substantiallyrectangular collector cover 6a and a plurality of substantially annular opening covers 6b, 6c that are described in the following. - The
collector cover 6a extends to spread over the first insulatingportion 2a and the second insulatingportion 2b of thebase insulating layer 2. In this case, theconductor layer 3 excluding the tips of theextraction conductor portions collector cover 6a. Hereinafter, the exposed tips, not covered with thecollector cover 6a, of theextraction conductor portions extraction electrodes - Rectangular openings H21, H22 are formed in regions, above the
collector portions conductor layer 3, of thecollector cover 6a. In the opening H21, the substantially annular opening covers 6b are formed so as to cover peripheries of the openings H11 of thecollector portion 3a. In the opening H22, the substantially annular opening covers 6c are formed so as to cover peripheries of the openings H12 of thecollector portion 3b. - The inside diameter of the
opening cover 6b is substantially equal to the inside diameter of the opening H1 of thebase insulating layer 2, and the outside diameter of theopening cover 6b is larger than the inside diameter of the opening H11 of thecollector portion 3a. In addition, the inside diameter of theopening cover 6c is substantially equal to the inside diameter of the opening H2 of thebase insulating layer 2, and the outside diameter of theopening cover 6c is larger than the inside diameter of the opening H12 of thecollector portion 3b. In this case, the opening covers 6b, 6c are in contact with thebase insulating layer 2 in the openings H11, H12 of thecollector portions - Next, description is made of a manufacturing method of the
FPC board 1 shown inFig. 1 .Fig. 2 andFig. 3 are sectional views for use in explaining steps in the manufacturing method of theFPC board 1. - First, a two-layer base material composed of an insulating
film 20 made of polyimide, for example, and aconductor film 21 made of copper, for example, is prepared as shown inFig. 2 (a) . The thickness of the insulatingfilm 20 is 12.5 µm, for example, and the thickness of theconductor film 21 is 12 µm, for example. - Next, an etching resist 22 having a predetermined pattern is formed on the
conductor film 21 as shown inFig. 2 (b) . The etching resist 22 is formed by forming a resist film on theconductor film 21 using a dry film resist or the like, exposing the resist film in a predetermined pattern, and then developing the resist film, for example. - Then, a region of the
conductor film 21 excluding a region below the etching resist 22 is removed by etching as shown inFig. 2 (c) . The etching resist 22 is subsequently removed by a stripping liquid as shown inFig. 2 (d) . In this way, a first metal layer F1 is formed on the insulatingfilm 20. - Next, a nickel plating layer and a gold plating layer are sequentially formed on the first metal layer F1 by electrolytic plating as shown in
Fig. 3 (e) . The thickness of the nickel plating layer is 5 µm, for example, and the thickness of the gold plating layer is 0.5 µm, for example. Accordingly, theconductor layer 3 composed of the first metal layer F1 and the second metal layer F2 is formed. - Then, a
cover insulating film 23 is formed on the insulatingfilm 20 so as to cover theconductor layer 3 as shown inFig. 3 (f) . Note that thecover insulating film 23 is suitably cured by heating after the formation of thecover insulating film 23. The thickness of thecover insulating layer 23 is 12.5 µm, for example. - The
cover insulating film 23 is subsequently exposed in a predetermined pattern, followed by development, so that thecover insulating layer 6 composed of thecollector cover 6a and the opening covers 6b, 6c is formed as shown inFig. 3 (g) . - Thereafter, the
cover insulating layer 6 is cured by heating. Then, the insulatingfilm 20 is cut into a predetermined shape, so that theFPC board 1 composed of thebase insulating layer 2, theconductor layer 3 and thecover insulating layer 6 is completed as shown inFig. 3 (h) . - Note that the thickness of the
base insulating layer 2 is preferably 5 to 50 µm, and more preferably 12.5 to 25 µm. The thickness of the first metal layer F1 is preferably 3 to 35 µm, and more preferably 5 to 20 µm. The thickness of the second metal layer F2 is preferably 0.1 to 10 µm, and more preferably 1 to 6 µm. The thickness of the nickel plating layer of the second metal layer F2 is preferably 3 to 6 µm, and the thickness of the gold plating layer of the second metal layer F2 is preferably 0.2 to 1 µm - The thickness of the
cover insulating layer 6 is preferably 3 to 25 µm, and more preferably 5 to 15 µm. - Although the manufacturing method of the
FPC board 1 by a subtractive method is shown inFig. 2 andFig. 3 , another manufacturing method such as a semi-additive method may be used. - Next, description is made of the fuel cell using the above-described
FPC board 1.Fig. 4 (a) is a perspective view showing the appearance of the fuel cell using the above-describedFPC board 1, andFig. 4 (b) is a diagram for use in explaining functions in the fuel cell. - As shown in
Fig. 4 (a) , thefuel cell 30 includes arectangular parallelepiped housing 31 composed ofhalf portions FPC board 1 is sandwiched between thehalf portions Fig. 1 with the one surface on which the conductor layer 3 (Fig. 1 ) and thecover insulating layer 6 are formed as its inner side. - The second insulating
portion 2b of thebase insulating layer 2 of theFPC board 1 is outwardly extracted from a clearance between thehalf portions extraction electrodes portion 2b to be exposed to the outside of thehousing 30. Terminals of various types of external circuits are electrically connected to theextraction electrodes - As shown in
Fig. 4 (b) , anelectrode film 35 is arranged between thecollector portion 3a and thecollector portion 3b of thebent FPC board 1 in thehousing 31. Theelectrode film 35 is composed of afuel electrode 35a, anair electrode 35b and anelectrolyte film 35c. Thefuel electrode 35a is formed on one surface of theelectrolyte film 35c, and theair electrode 35b is formed on the other surface of theelectrolyte film 35c. Thefuel electrode 35a of theelectrode film 35 faces thecollector portion 3b of theFPC board 1, and theair electrode 35b faces thecollector portion 3a of theFPC board 1. - Fuel is supplied to the
fuel electrode 35a of theelectrode film 35 through the openings H2, H12 of theFPC board 1. Note that methanol is used as fuel in the present embodiment. Air is supplied to theair electrode 35b of theelectrode film 35 through the openings H1, F11 of theFPC board 1. - In this case, methanol is decomposed into hydrogen ions and carbon dioxide in the
fuel electrode 35a, forming electrons. The formed electrons are led to theextraction electrode 5b (Fig. 4 (a) ) from thecollector portion 3b of theFPC board 1. Hydrogen ions decomposed from methanol pass through theelectrolyte film 35c to reach theair electrode 35b. In theair electrode 35b, hydrogen ions and oxygen are reacted while the electrons led to thecollector portion 3a from theextraction electrode 5a (Fig. 4 (a) ) are consumed, thereby forming water. In this way, electrical power is supplied to the external circuits connected to theextraction electrodes - In the
FPC board 1 of the present embodiment, theextraction electrodes portion 2b of thebase insulating layer 2. This allows theextraction electrodes fuel cell 30 using theFPC board 1. Accordingly, reliability of connection between the external circuits and thefuel cell 30 is improved. - In addition, an interface between the second metal layer F2 and the
base insulating layer 2 is covered with thecover insulating layer 6 while a surface of the first metal layer F1 made of copper is covered with the second metal layer F2 including the gold plating layer having high corrosion resistance in theFPC board 1 of the present embodiment. In this case, even in a state where acid of methanol or the like is in contact with a surface of theFPC board 1, the acid is reliably prevented from being in contact with the first metal layer F1 made of copper in thefuel cell 30. Accordingly, copper can be reliably prevented from corroding while inexpensive copper is used to suppress an increase in cost. -
Fig. 5 is a plan view showing another example of theFPC board 1. In theFPC board 1 ofFig. 5 , the second insulatingportion 2b of thebase insulating layer 2 is formed so as to outwardly extend from the end side of the first insulatingportion 2a. In addition, theextraction conductor portions conductor layer 3 are formed so as to extend from thecollector portions portion 2b of thebase insulating layer 2. Theextraction electrodes portion 2b. - Also in the
fuel cell 30 using theFPC board 1 shown inFig. 5 , the external circuits can be easily and reliably attached to theextraction electrodes - Note that a material for the
base insulating layer 2 and thecover insulating layer 6 is not limited to polyimide. For example, other insulating materials such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethernitrile and polyethersulphone may be used. - In addition, a material for the first metal layer F1 of the
conductor layer 3 is not limited to copper. For example, other metal materials such as copper alloy, gold and aluminum may be used. A material for the second metal layer F2 is not limited to nickel and gold. For example, other metal materials having high corrosion resistance may be used. Moreover, the first metal layer F1 and the second metal layer F2 may be formed of the same material. - The shape and size of the
collector portions conductor layer 3 can be suitably set depending on the shape and size of thebase insulating layer 2. - In the following paragraph, non-limiting examples of correspondences between various elements recited in the claims below and those described above with respect to various embodiments of the present invention are explained.
- In the above-described embodiment, the
base insulating layer 2 is an example of an insulating layer, the first region R1 is an example of a first region, the second region R2 is an example of a second region, the second insulatingportion 2b is an example of a third region, thecollector portion 3a is an example of a first conductor layer, thecollector portion 3b is an example of a second conductor layer, theextraction conductor portion 4a is an example of a first extraction portion, theextraction conductor portion 4b is an example of a second extraction portion, the second metal layer F2 is an example of a metal layer, the opening H1 is an example of a first through hole, and the opening H2 is an example of a second through hole. Thefuel electrode 35a, theair electrode 35b and theelectrolyte film 35c are examples of a cell element. - As each of various elements recited in the claims, various other elements having configurations or functions described in the claims can be also used.
- While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing the scope of the present invention.
Claims (8)
- A printed circuit board comprising:an insulating layer having one surface and the other surface while including first and second regions that are adjacent to each other and a third region that is adjacent to said first region on said one surface;a first conductor layer formed on said first region of said insulating layer;a second conductor layer formed on said second region of said insulating layer;a first extraction portion formed so as to extend from said first conductor layer to said third region of said insulating layer; anda second extraction portion formed so as to extend from said second conductor layer to said third region of said insulating layer, whereina bent portion is provided at a boundary between said first region and said second region, and said third region is provided so that at least part of said first extraction portion and at least part of said second extraction portion on said third region are not overlapped with said second region when said first and second regions are bent at said bent portion with said one surface as an inner side.
- The printed circuit board according to claim 1, wherein
said first and second regions of said insulating layer each have a substantially rectangular shape with said bent portion as a common one side, and
said third region is adjacent to another one side, being substantially parallel to said bent portion, of said first region. - The printed circuit board according to claim 1, wherein
said first and second regions of said insulating layer each have a substantially rectangular shape with said bent portion as a common one side, and
said third region is adjacent to another one side, being substantially vertical to said bent portion, of said first region. - The printed circuit board according to any one of the previous claims, further comprising a metal layer that has electrical conductivity and acid resistance and is formed so as to cover said first and second conductor layers and said first and second extraction portions.
- The printed circuit board according to claim 4, wherein said metal layer includes gold.
- The printed circuit board according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising a cover insulating layer that covers an interface between said metal layer and said insulating layer at least on said first and second regions of said insulating layer.
- The printed circuit board according to any one of the previous claims, further comprising
a first through hole formed so as to penetrate said first region of said insulating layer and said first conductor layer and
a second through hole formed so as to penetrate said second region of said insulating layer and said second conductor layer. - A fuel cell comprising:a printed circuit board;a cell element; anda housing that accommodates said printed circuit board and said cell element, whereinsaid printed circuit board includesan insulating layer having one surface and the other surface while including first and second regions that are adjacent to each other and a third region that is adjacent to said first region on said one surface;a first conductor layer formed on said first region of said insulating layer;a second conductor layer formed on said second region of said insulating layer;a first extraction portion formed so as to extend from said first conductor layer to said third region of said insulating layer; anda second extraction portion formed so as to extend from said second conductor layer to said third region of said insulating layer,a bent portion is provided at a boundary between said first region and said second region, and said third region is provided so that at least part of said first extraction portion and at least part of said second extraction portion on said third region are not overlapped with said second region when said first and second regions are bent at said bent portion with said one surface as an inner side,said cell element is arranged between said first and second regions while said first and second regions of said insulating layer of said printed circuit board are bent along said bent portion with said one surface as the inner side, andsaid third region of said insulating layer is outwardly extracted from said housing so that at least part of said first extraction portion and at least part of said second extraction portion are exposed to the outside of said housing.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2007109310A JP4886581B2 (en) | 2007-04-18 | 2007-04-18 | Wiring circuit board and fuel cell |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1986260A1 true EP1986260A1 (en) | 2008-10-29 |
EP1986260B1 EP1986260B1 (en) | 2011-07-06 |
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP08251403A Not-in-force EP1986260B1 (en) | 2007-04-18 | 2008-04-11 | Printed circuit board and fuel cell |
Country Status (6)
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---|---|
US (1) | US7718284B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1986260B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4886581B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR101467571B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN101290995B (en) |
AT (1) | ATE515809T1 (en) |
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EP2302986A1 (en) * | 2009-09-25 | 2011-03-30 | Nitto Denko Corporation | Printed circuit board and fuel cell |
EP2328393A1 (en) * | 2009-11-11 | 2011-06-01 | Nitto Denko Corporation | Printed circuit board and fuel cell |
EP2431414A1 (en) * | 2010-09-15 | 2012-03-21 | Nitto Denko Corporation | Paste composition and printed circuit board |
CN102625565A (en) * | 2011-01-26 | 2012-08-01 | 日东电工株式会社 | Printed circuit board and method for manufacturing the same, and fuel cell |
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JP2008300238A (en) * | 2007-05-31 | 2008-12-11 | Nitto Denko Corp | Wiring circuit board and fuel cell |
JP2010050378A (en) * | 2008-08-25 | 2010-03-04 | Nitto Denko Corp | Wiring circuit board and fuel cell |
JP2010192404A (en) * | 2009-02-20 | 2010-09-02 | Toshiba Corp | Fuel cell |
JP2010287658A (en) * | 2009-06-10 | 2010-12-24 | Lenovo Singapore Pte Ltd | Flexible printed board |
CN102959781B (en) | 2011-06-23 | 2015-06-17 | 日本梅克特隆株式会社 | Flexible circuit substrate, manufacturing method thereof, and fuel cell employing said flexible circuit substrate |
US10264678B1 (en) * | 2017-10-03 | 2019-04-16 | Rfmicron, Inc. | Integrated and flexible battery securing apparatus |
WO2021090424A1 (en) * | 2019-11-07 | 2021-05-14 | 株式会社日立ハイテク | Fuel battery cell and method for manufacturing fuel battery cell |
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---|---|---|---|---|
EP2302986A1 (en) * | 2009-09-25 | 2011-03-30 | Nitto Denko Corporation | Printed circuit board and fuel cell |
EP2328393A1 (en) * | 2009-11-11 | 2011-06-01 | Nitto Denko Corporation | Printed circuit board and fuel cell |
EP2431414A1 (en) * | 2010-09-15 | 2012-03-21 | Nitto Denko Corporation | Paste composition and printed circuit board |
US8642686B2 (en) | 2010-09-15 | 2014-02-04 | Nitto Denko Corporation | Paste composition and printed circuit board |
CN102625565A (en) * | 2011-01-26 | 2012-08-01 | 日东电工株式会社 | Printed circuit board and method for manufacturing the same, and fuel cell |
EP2482372A3 (en) * | 2011-01-26 | 2012-09-05 | Nitto Denko Corporation | Printed circuit board and method for manufacturing the same, and fuel cell |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1986260B1 (en) | 2011-07-06 |
US7718284B2 (en) | 2010-05-18 |
JP2008270420A (en) | 2008-11-06 |
CN101290995B (en) | 2012-02-29 |
CN101290995A (en) | 2008-10-22 |
KR101467571B1 (en) | 2014-12-01 |
US20080261086A1 (en) | 2008-10-23 |
KR20080093917A (en) | 2008-10-22 |
JP4886581B2 (en) | 2012-02-29 |
ATE515809T1 (en) | 2011-07-15 |
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